Pumping system



Jan. 21, 1969 REPP 3,422,768

PUMPING SYSTEM Filed June 28, 1967 INVENTOR. 28 FRED CT. REPP ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,422,768 PUMPING SYSTEM Fred J. Repp, 4320 SE. 136th, Portland, Oreg. 97236 Filed June 28, 1967, Ser. No. 649,732 US. Cl. 103234 Int. Cl. F04f 1/06; F16k 21/04 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pumping system designed for collecting a quantity of material in a storage tank and then periodically pumping the material from the tank to a desired point of discharge. In this system, an air compressor is arranged for periodically evacuating the tank, and operation of the air compressor is controlled by a pressure responsive switch located outside the tank and in turn controlled by a diaphragm within the tank, which diaphragm comprises the floor of said tank.

Background of the invention Summary 0] the invention Briefly stated the invention employs a storage tank having an upper inlet and an outlet in the form of a standpipe extending from a point adjacent the bottom of the tank and projecting upwardly through the top of the tank. The contents are periodically ejected from the tank by air compressor means controlled by control means located outside the tank and operated by a diaphragm in the tank. A primary objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a pumping system of the type described wherein air compressor control means for periodically operating the air compressor are located outside the tank and are unaffected in their operation by contents of the tank.

Another object is to provide a pumping system having a novel arrangement and simplified construction for accomplishing the intended purpose and also including a novel inlet valve for permitting the inflow of liquid but preventing backflow of liquid when the tank is pressured.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a layout view, partly diagrammatic, of the present pumping system; and

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detail view of valve means, taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

Description 0 the preferred embodiment eferring in particular to the drawings, the present pumping system includes a tank 10 which in general may be substantially of any shape or size. In one particular use of this invention, the tank has a top flange 12 by means of which it may be secured in depending relation from a support 14. The support 14 may, for example, comprise a houseboat and the tank 10 would depend downwardly into the water whereby to be in an out of the way position and furthermore to be in a position to receive liquid contents by gravity. The inlet conduit for the tank is designated by the numeral 16 and this conduit has 3,422,768 Patented Jan. 21, 1969 a conventional vent pipe 18. 'Inlet conduit 16 leads into the tank adjacent the upper portion thereof.

Conduit 16 has an end 20 extending upright relative to the tank. Specifically, the end 20 is cut so that it extends in a plane which is angled backward a slight amount relative to the vertical, namely, said end is angled back toward the pipe in an upward direction. Mounted over the end of the pipe on a flexible arm 22 is a closure plate 24 which by its mounting support on the arm 22 functions in a manner similar to a flap valve. Flexible arm 22 does not have any appreciable operative spring function with relation to the plate 24, other than holding the said plate in the plane of pipe end 20, and thus allows the plate to seat by gravity on said end 20 as well as to readily move out of its pipe end engaging position by inward flow of liquid through the conduit 16. Arm 22 does, however, have suflicient strength to support vertically and laterally the plate 24 in the plane of the end of the conduit, and with the end 20 angled, as described, the plate 24 in the normal position thereof will rest by gravity against the end 20.

The bottom closure portion of the tank comprises a diaphragm 26 constructed of a resilient material such as rubber or a durable plastic. Tank 10 also has a bottom dome-shaped cap 28 forming a chamber 30 in which is disposed upright spring means 32 serving as assisting return means for the diaphragm 26. Cap 28 and the bottom of tank 10 have a flanged connection 34, and in a preferred construction, the diaphragm 26 is merely secured in place by the flanged connection. Diaphragm 26 has sealed relationship in the flanged connection to provide a fluid-tight bottom on the tank. The connection is such also that the bottom cap 28 has a fluid-tight connection with the tank.

It is apparent that the contents of the tank are supported by the diaphragm 26, and as the amount of contents increases, the diaphragm flexes downwardly. Such distortion of the diaphragm causes operation of control mechanism hereinafter to be described.

Disposed centrally of the tank 10 is an upstanding discharge pipe 36 the open bottom end of which is spaced a short distance above the diaphragm in the normal position of the latter and the upper end of which projects through the top of the tank and extends to any suitable discharge point. Included in the pipe 36 is a check valve 38 which may be of any conventional construction. This valve serves the function of permitting the outflow of contents through the pipe 36 but prevents any backflow into the tank.

The tank is adapted to be emptied by air pressure from an air compressor 40 of conventional construction having communication with the tank by a conduit 42 connected into the top of the tank. Upon developing sufficient pressure in the tank, it is apparent that the contents thereof will be forced upwardly through the discharge pipe 36.

Mounted in the conduit 42 between the compressor and the tank is a three-way valve 44. This valve is of conventional construction such that in one position thereof it allows pressured air from the compressor 40 to be supplied to the tank 10 and in another position thereof it closes off the tank from the compressor. A vent pipe 46 leads from the valve 44 and is operative with the valve to vent the tank in one position of the valve and to be closed in another position of the valve. That is, in the position of the valve wherein the compressor is in communication wit-h the tank 10 the vent 4 6 is closed so that all the output of the compressor is directed through conduit 42 and in the other position of the valve wherein the pressured air supply to the tank is closed off the vent 46 opens the tank to atmosphere.

Valve 44 is rotatably operated by a solenoid 48, and the operation of this solenoid is controlled by a pressure responsive switch designated generally by the numeral 50.

The particular construction of the pressure responsive switch 50 is conventional in the trade and includes a housing 52 having a diaphragm 54 therein. One side of the housing 52 is in communication with the chamber 30 by means of a conduit 56, and the other side of the housing is in communication with conduit 42 by means of a conduit 58. Diaphragm 54 is connected to one end of a plunger 60 engageable at its other end with a switch arm 62 arranged in turn for engagement with a switch contact 64. Switch arm 62 is pivotally connected to a second switch contact 66 and extends beyond said contact and has over-center action by means of a spring 68 connected thereto. Switch 50 is connected in circuit with the solenoid 48 by means of connecting wires 70 and 72.

Suitable relief valve means 74 and 76 are provided in the conduit 42 and in the tank 10, respectively, to prevent any excessive pressure in the system.

Although the valve 24 is sealed against the end 20 of conduit 16 by gravity and by air pressure introduced into the tank 10, auxiliary means in the form of an air cylinder 80 is provided for further closing such valve. For this purpose, the air cylinder 80 is secured to the outside of the tank in the area of the valve 24 and has a piston rod 82 having an angled end finger 84 overlying the inner face of the valve 24. The finger 84 of the piston rod is disposed in a plane parallel with the angled end 20 of the conduit 16 so that upon activation of the air cylinder 80, the finger 84 holds the valve flush against the end of the conduit. In the inoperative position of the air cylinder, the finger 84 of the piston rod is spaced inwardly of the tank from the valve 24 an amount suflicient to permit the latter to open freely and permit the inflow of material. Air cylinder 80 is connected to conduit 42 by means of a conduit 86. This conduit is connected into the cylinder adjacent the front of the latter and when the tank 10 is pressured by the air compressor 40 the air cylinder 80 is activated to retract its piston rod and positively seat the valve 24. Air cylinder 80 has a spring return so that when inactivated its piston rod will be disposed in an outward position.

In the operation of the present system, the parts normally are in the position shown in FIGURE 1. That is, the pressure responsive switch 50 is in a rest or open position, the solenoid 48 is de-energized to hold the valve 44 in a position which breaks communication between the compressor and the tank 10, and the air cylinder 80 is deactivated with its piston rod 82 projected outwardly to permit normal operation of valve 24. Upon the filling of tank 10 to a certain level, such as to level X, as determined by the flexibility of the diaphragm 26 and the ad justable setting of pressure responsive switch 50, the weight of the contents will flex the diaphragm 26 downwardly and build up the air pressure in the chamber 30 as well as conduit 56 to a point where the switch 50 is closed, namely, where the switch arm 62 will be thrown to an over-center position and engage contact 64. When the switch 50 is closed, the solenoid 48 is energized and moves the three-way valve to a position closing off the vent 46 and establishing communication between the compressor and the tank. The tank 10 is thus pressured and the contents are discharged rapidly through the pipe 36.

With the compressor in operation, air pressure also acts on the diaphragm 54 of the pressure responsive switch to urge said diaphragm toward its normal position, but since air pressure also exists at this time in the tank the diaphragm 54 cannot return immediately due to the pressure in chamber 30 from the compressor as well as from the weight of the contents. Thus, a differential in pressure exists on opposite sides of the diaphragm from the weight of the contents. As the contents are ejected however, the diaphragm 54 can then move toward its normal position, and when substantially all of the contents are removed from the tank the differential of pressure on opposite sides of the diaphragm 54 substantially disappears and the diaphragm then returns to its normal position. As such diaphragm reaches its normal position, switch arm 62 moves to its other over-center position. Such arm will remain in its normal position until the pressure in chamber 30 again increases under the weight of the contents an amount sufficient to cause the diaphragm to move the switch arm 62 to its other over-center position. The over-center functioning of the switch arm 62 may be adjustable, as well understood in the art, to determine the position of the diaphragm 54 at which over-centering occurs. That is, conventional over-centering mechanism of this type may have adjustment to cause the tank to be emptied at selected filled conditions thereof. Such adjustment may be made so that the tank is substantially filled before it is emptied or if desired it may be emptied after only being partially filled. Each time pressure exists in the line 42, as when the contents are being ejected from the tank 10, the cylinder is activated to hold the valve 24 in a positive seated position.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a forced pumping system adapted for use in those instances where waste material or the like must be raised above a normal discharge position and conveyed to a distant point. The outlet conduit may feed to a sewer system or other carry off means. A particular feature of the invention is that all the controls are disposed exteriorly of the tank and operation thereof cannot be affected by the contents. The system will thus operate efliciently with a minimum of maintenance or repair.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A pumping system comprising:

(a) a storage tank having defining side walls and upper and lower ends;

(b) inlet means leading into said storage tank;

(c) valve means in said inlet means allowing the inflow of liquid but preventing backflow of contents in the tank;

(d) an outlet in said tank adjacent the upper end thereof;

(e) a flexible diaphragm extending across said tank adjacent the lower end thereof;

(f) air compressing means communicating with the upper portion of said tank and arranged to build up sufficient pressure in said tank to force the contents through said outlet;

(g) control means disposed exteriorly of said tank and controlling operation of said air compressing means;

(h) and means connecting said control means with said diaphragm;

(i) said control means being operated by flexing movement of said diaphragm under the weight of the contents in said tank and being operable at a selected flexed condition of the diaphragm from the weight of the contents to cause operation of said air compressing means for forcing the contents from said tank.

2. The pumping system of claim 1 wherein (a) said inlet means comprises a conduit having an end thereof terminating interiorly of said tank;

(b) said valve means comprising a flap valve operative on said end of the conduit for permitting said inflow of liquid and preventing said backflow of the contents of the tank.

3. The pumping system of claim 1 wherein (a) said inlet means comprises a conduit having an end thereof terminating interiorly of said tank;

(b) said valve means comprising a flap valve; and

(c) flexible arm means supporting said flap valve in free abutting engagement against the end of said conduit,

(d) said flap valve being operative on said end of the conduit for permitting said inflow of liquid and preventing said backflow of the contents of the tank.

4. The pumping system of claim 1 wherein (a) said inlet means comprises a conduit having an end thereof terminating interiorly of said tank;

(b) said valve means comprising a flap valve,

(c) the said end of said conduit being angled relative to the vertical to allow gravity seating of said flap valve thereagainst;

(d) and flexible arm means supporting said flap valve for said gravity seating engagement against the end of said conduit,

(e) said flap valve being operative on said end of the conduit for permitting said inflow of liquid and preventing said backflow of the contents of the tank.

5. The pumping system of claim 1 wherein (a) said inlet means comprises a conduit having an end thereof terminating interiorly of said tank;

(b) said valve means comprising a flap valve operative between open and closed positions on said end of the conduit for permitting said inflow of liquid and preventing said backflow of the contents;

(c) and power means operative on said flap valve to hold the latter in its closed position.

6. The pumping system of claim 1 wherein (a) said inlet means comprises a conduit having an end thereof terminating interiorly of said tank;

(b) said valve means comprising a flap valve operative between open and closed positions on said end of the conduit for permitting said inflow of liquid and preventing said backflow of the contents;

(c) and power means operative on said flap valve to hold the latter in its closed position,

(d) said power means being controlled selectively by said control means to operate simultaneously with admittance of pressured air into said tank by said air compressing means.

7. The pumping system of claim 1 wherein said outlet in the tank comprises a standpipe projecting through said tank adjacent the upper end thereof, the bottom of said standpipe being spaced a short distance above the diaphragm for receiving contents to be discharged.

8. The pumping system of claim 1 wherein (a) said air compressing means includes an air pump,

and

(b) conduit means connected between said air pump to permit the flow of air therethrough upon a downward flexing of said diaphragm which is suflicient to operate said air compressing means.

9. The pumping system of claim 1 wherein (a) said air compressing means includes an air pump,

and

(b) conduit means connected between said air pump and said tank;

(c) said system also including a vent pipe for said tank;

(d) a three-way valve in said control means operatively mounted in said conduit means,

(e) said three-way valve being arranged normally to close said conduit means and open said vent pipe but to open said conduit means and close said vent pipe upon a downward flexing of said diaphragm which is sufiicient to operate said air compressing means.

10. The pumping system of claim 1 wherein (a) said diaphragm extends across said tank above the lower end of the latter and forms an air chamber sealed oil from the upper liquid receiving portion of the tank;

(b) said control means comprising pressure responsive control means, and

(c) conduit means establishing air tight communication between said air chamber and said pressure responsive control means,

(d) said pressure responsive control means being operated by air pressure developed in said air chamber as a result of said downward flexing of said diaphragm under the weight of the contents in the tank,

(e) said pressure responsive control means being operable at a selected air pressure from the weight of the contents to cause operation of said air compressing means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 922,870 5/1909 Esping 103243 1,626,072 4/1927 Brady 103234 1,911,950 5/1933 Griswold 103234 2,140,419 12/1938 Doyle 103240 2,596,593 5/1952 Paxton 103243 2,899,908 8/1959 Nemecsek l03--243 3,008,450 11/1961 Brunson 103248 X 3,299,832 1/1967 Milne 103240 X DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. W. J. KRAUSS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

